This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

Synopsis

This unit will focus on research into the latest developments in the field of information technology, including innovative technology developments involving human computer interaction, information visualisation of complex data and emerging interface techniques. Students will learn valuable research and communication skills as they investigate and share with their peers the impact of emergent technologies and interfaces on society. The content presented in the lectures will focus on grand challenges in the field of information technology and on emerging trends. Students will apply their theoretical understanding to a practical project negotiated with the lecturer using a learning contract.

Outcomes

At the completion of this unit students will have -

A theoretical and conceptual understanding of:

the diversity of theoretical and conceptual frameworks which contribute to the current developments in the field of information technology, including human computer interaction, information visualisation and interface design;

the grand challenges in the field of information technology and the emerging trends, including the range of applications to which emerging information technologies, information visualisation techniques and innovative interfaces can be applied, for example ubiquitous computing, geospatial information visualisation and mobile devices interfaces.

Developed attitudes that enable them to:

critically evaluate the impact of rapid changes in information technology on society and to appreciate the pervasive and expanding range of applications and fields on which information technology is impacting.

Developed the skills to:

locate and critically evaluate information on current research in the field, for example using electronic library databases, and to synthesise the information they have gathered into a logical and coherent argument;

communicate results of their investigation to their peers effectively through written and/or oral presentations while correctly acknowledging and referencing source material;

apply their theoretical understanding to a practical project negotiated with the lecturer using a learning contract.

Demonstrated the teamwork skills necessary to:

work as a member of a team to present the finding of their research to their peers.